American products

The other day there was a sign posted in the workroom at school indicating that Lidl, one of the grocery stores here (think Aldi), was having their "American Products Week," where evidently they feature a different ethnicity of food each week. We were told we could find "luxuries" like peanut butter, pancake mix, maple syrup, etc. We don't usually shop there, but decided to go check it out. We were expecting Jif, Aunt Jemima, Kraft mac and cheese, but were a bit disappointed. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera with me and can't remember the brand name, but it was something generic and the selection was tiny. They did have peanut butter and pancake mix, but it still wasn't a great deal and we make our own from scratch anyway. Interestingly, we did, however, find these cookies on the snack aisle.

Driving School

I (David) started driving school in November to get my Spanish driver license. After three hours of class each week, numerous practice tests, and a doctor's exam, I am now scheduled to take the written test February 17. If I pass, I will begin driving lessons in a car with an instructor.

It has been an interesting process to say the least. After getting my book, I read the first chapter and then took a practice test over the chapter. I missed over half the questions. The first chapter included numerous definitions, including:


(if you're wondering, I have yet to see any cultivators driving down the road in Spain...)

Wonder what it's like to get a license in Spain? Here are some sample practice questions to prepare for the test. If you're bored and have a few minutes, try these ten questions. If you just want to read the questions with their answers, scroll down.

1. On a road with one lane in each direction with a paved hard shoulder of one metre wide, at what speed is a truck permitted to drive?

a. 80 kph
b. 70 kph
c. 90 kph

2. In a four wheel drive vehicle, the driving wheels are...

a. the front wheels
b. the rear wheels
c. the four wheels

3. Whitish-blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe is a sign of...

a. a lack of oil
b. an excess of grease
c. an oil leak

4. How much can a solid load project from the ground projection of a 7 metre long truck?

a. it can't project
b. a third of the length of the vehicle, both in front and behind
c. two metres in front and three metres behind

5. A bus and a truck meet at a narrow stretch of road without signs which give priority. If we don't know which entered first, the vehicle that must reverse is...

a. that which has the greater maximum authorized mass
b. the truck
c. the bus

6. How can you warn the driver in front of your intention to overtake?

a. by means of your directional indicators
b. by means of appropriate acoustic signs, outside a built-up area, or optical signs both inside and outide a built-up area
c. by means of appropriate acoustic or optical signs, both inside and outside built-up areas

7. Is a private car towing a light trailer considered to be a group of vehicles?

a. yes, it is an articulated vehicle
b. yes, it is a road train
c. no, because the trailer is light

8. Are you permitted to drive a farm tractor weighing over 3,500 kg of MAM (maximum authorized mass) with a class B driving license? (this is the license that I will have)

a. no, because it exceeds the 3,500 kg of MAM
b. yes, if the maximum authorized speed does not exceed 40 kilometers per hour
c. yes, if it is carrying fewer than nine people, including the driver

9. An automobile especially designed for the transport, simultaneous or not, of merchandise and people, up to a maximum of nine, including the driver is...

a. a private car
b. an adaptable mixed vehicle
c. a van



10. In the situation above, what must you do if you want to continue driving straight ahead and the vehicle behind you wants to turn right?

a. I must wait for the main traffic light to change to green
b. I must turn right
c. I must continue straight ahead without waiting for the main traffic light to change to green

And the answers:

1. On a road with one lane in each direction with a paved hard shoulder of one metre wide, at what speed is a truck permitted to drive?
a. 80 kph
*b. 70 kph
c. 90 kph

The posted speed limit in Europe is only for private cars and motorcycles. There are four classes of roads and eleven classes of vehicles with different speed limits on each type of road. I must know them all for the test.

2. In a four wheel drive vehicle, the driving wheels are...
*a. the font wheels
b. the rear wheels
c. the four wheels

3. Whitsh-blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe is a sign of...
a. a lack of oil
*b. an excess of grease
c. an oil leak

4. How much can a solid load project from the ground projection of a 7 metre long truck?
a. it can't project
b. a third of the length of the vehicle, both in front and behind
*c. two metres in front and three metres behind

5. A bus and a truck meet at a narrow stretch of road without signs which give priority. If we don't know which entered first, the vehicle that must reverse is...
a. that which has the greater maximum authorized mass
*b. the truck
c. the bus

6. How can you warn the driver in front of your intention to overtake?
a. by means of your directional indicators
*b. by means of appropriate acoustic signs, outside a built-up area, or optical signs both inside and outide a built-up area
c. by means of appropriate acoustic or optical signs, both inside and outside built-up areas

7. Is a private car towing a light trailer considered to be a group of vehicles?
a. yes, it is an articulated vehicle
*b. yes, it is a road train
c. no, because the trailer is light

8. Are you permitted to drive a farm tractor weighing over 3,500 kg of MAM (maximum authorized mass) with a class B driving license? (this is the license that I will have)
a. no, because it exceeds the 3,500 kg of MAM
b. yes, if the maximum authorized speed does not exceed 40 kilometers per hour
*c. yes, if it is carrying fewer than nine people, including the driver

9. An automobile especially designed for the transport, simultaneous or not, of merchandise and people, up to a maximum of nine, including the driver is...
a. a private car
*b. an adaptable mixed vehicle
c. a van

The car that we drive for the dorm is an adaptable mixed vehicle, though it looks like a van to me.



10. In the situation above, what must you do if you want to continue driving straight ahead and the vehicle behind you wants to turn right?
a. I must wait for the main traffic light to change to green
*b. I must turn right
c. I must continue straight ahead without waiting for the main traffic light to change to green

It doesn't matter what direction you want to go. If there is a green arrow and the person behind you wants to turn right, you must go right. Then you get to find a place to turn around to get back where you wanted to go.

How did you do? You must make at least 90% to pass the written exam. Needless to say, it quite common to have to take the test a few times before passing.

Library wish list

The library here at ECA has an ongoing "wish list" of books for all ages, K-12. If you have any of these books around your house or if you are willing or able to go to a used bookstore and send them to us, please let us know. CLICK HERE to view the wish list.

Rachelism

This morning

Rachel - "Mommy, guess what! Last night I had a dream that my Sunday School class from Hixson Presbyterian went to Nineveh."

Keri - "Ninevah?"

Rachel: "Yeah, with JONAH! The real one."

Recently heard in the dorm...

Student (who happens to be American): Do you have an escoba?

David: puzzled look

Student: You know, for sweeping up a mess.

David: A dustpan?

Student: No, an escoba.  You know, the thing that you use to sweep.

David: A broom?

Student: Yea, a broom.  That's it.

David: It's behind the door there.

Maybe one day I'll know Spanish so well that I won't be able to think of the English word for something.  :)

Spanish Folk Song

This is a short video of one of the dorm boys playing a Spanish folk song at a coffee house that the seniors sponsored yesterday. No offense to any of the elementary students that David taught last year, but we never knew the recorder could sound this good. :)

And yes, in case we failed to mention it, we are now dorm parents to the boys. The boys' dorm parents had to return to the States for six months, and the boarding committee decided that it would be best for the boys to move in with us. So, the girls are out, the boys are in, and we are very much enjoying them so far.

Goodbyes

My least favorite part of the mission field so far is the inevitable goodbyes we must say to new friends we make. Arriving here with us in August were two ladies who have become regular fixtures in our home, both of whom are leaving us at the end of this week.

Susan is a Boston-native who has been the piano teacher and elementary music teacher this semester. We "adopted" her early on and have been privileged to share school life, church life and home life with her. We love her dearly and we will miss her terribly.

Penny is a Canadian who has been living and working at Hinkson Academy in Moscow, Russia for the past 10 or so years (plus two years in Siberia). She came to ECA for the fall semester to help get the ESL/ELL program up and running and work with those teachers and to get a personal retreat from the hardships one faces after living in Moscow for so many years. She has very much enjoyed sunny Spain and has recently gotten quite a kick out of our reaction to the "record snowfall," here in Madrid. :) She also has been such a good friend to us, an "aunt," to our kids and given us so much of her wisdom and experience. She even came over last weekend and gave us a lesson in making Korean sushi and Chop Chow (or something like that). The boys LOVED it. Here are a few photos of the afternoon.

Some of the ingredients.

Penny and Tim cutting vegetables and preparing to roll the sushi.

Layering the rice and veggies in the seaweed.

The almost finished product.

This is the Chop-Chay (or however you spell it). Basically it's a beef/noodle dish with cooked vegetables. Delish! Thanks so much, Penny!